Japanese Makers' Plants in Asia
Steer Vehicles to Home Market

J APAN'S AUTO MAKERS are starting to import vehicles into Japan from their Asian factories for the first time in memory.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. last week started marketing in Japan a 2.5-liter diesel pickup truck assembled by its affiliate in Thailand; at the same time, Mitsubishi halted production in Japan of a similar model. And late last year, a Nissan Motor Co. unit started importing buses from its affiliate in the...